Procyclins, proteases and proteomics: dissecting trypanosomes in the tsetse fly

The forms of African trypanosomes that live in tsetse fly vectors are coated with lipid-anchored proteins and glycoproteins known collectively as procyclins. Procyclins are expressed during development in the fly in a multiplicity of isoforms yet their functions remain unknown. Recent studies involving a multidisciplinary synthesis of tsetse biology, immunochemistry, biological chemistry and mass spectrometry have yielded much new information about procyclins, which could now provide an unparalleled view of the dynamic molecular interactions between this parasite and its insect vector.